Joe Biden made history as the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon rainforest. During his visit, he stated:
“It’s often said that the Amazon is the lungs of the world. But in my view, our forest and national wonders are the heart and soul of the world. The Amazon rainforest was built up over 15 million years. Fifteen million years of history is literally watching us now.”
As an organization committed to protecting the Amazon in solidarity with Indigenous peoples, we wholeheartedly share these sentiments, particularly as we witness the rainforest suffering from historic climate-induced drought and the worst fires in two decades primarily driven by the expansion of the agribusiness frontier.
As the Amazon approaches a catastrophic tipping point of ecological collapse, we welcome President Biden’s statements and increased commitment to support the Amazon Fund and President Lula’s Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) to ensure direct funding to Indigenous and local communities. However, we are disappointed that this support comes in the final days of Biden’s administration, and we sincerely hope it can be delivered before the transition to a new administration.
While Biden was delivering his remarks, Brazilian activists staged an action to block the Tapajós River in opposition to the proposed construction of the Ferrogrão Mega-Railway, promoted by U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill. This project is intended to facilitate the transportation of soybeans and corn from Brazil’s west-central region. The railway would cut through the Amazon, connecting it to ports on the Tapajós River, and is projected to result in over 2,000 square kilometers of deforestation. If approved and constructed, this project would be disastrous for the Amazon and Brazil’s credibility as a global climate leader and the host of COP30 in Belém next year.
To truly protect the Amazon and safeguard the lives and cultures of the Indigenous peoples who call it home, there are actions President Biden could take now before leaving office. Most importantly, he should provide immediate political and financial support for efforts to demarcate Indigenous territories in the Amazon, which have been proven as the most effective strategy for protecting the forest.
Indigenous rights are under an attack primarily driven by agribusiness lobby in Brazil and President Biden could demonstrate support for the Lula administration’s efforts to demarcate Indigenous territories and protect them from destruction. Time is running out to act decisively, and Biden has an opportunity to leave a legacy of leadership in the fight to protect the heart pump of the world’s weather system.
